The Black Chapel (12 page)

I try to dance as far away from him as possible, but I still can’t avoid his intense glare. What the hell is he doing here? Once my music ends, I can’t get off the stage fast enough. I see that he gets up too and approaches Laila. Spying on them from behind the wings, I see her shaking her head. He’s persistent though. And finally I see Laila head for the backstage door. Crap! She’s coming for me.

I run to the dressing room and hurry out of my costume. I manage to have my jeans and t-shirt on by the time she’s back, hoping she’ll just see that I’m halfway home already.

“Scarlett!” Laila yells halfway across the room. She only calls me by my real name when she means business. “I need to see you in my office right this minute.”

I wince, but follow her to her office. Once inside, she says, “I told Mr. Manning what you said, but he is insisting on seeing you again.”

My heart hits the concrete and shatters into a million pieces. He’s cheating on me. I remind myself that he’s cheating on me with me, but it doesn’t really make things better. Should it?

“Mr. Manning is willing to pay up to fifty thousand dollars for an hour with you, and I’m sorry that I have to say this, but if you don’t accept, I’ll have to let you go, Scarlett,” Laila says. She leans forward on her desk and gives me the evil eye.

“No, you can’t do this. Performing in the Sanctuary isn’t in my contract. I was just hired as a dancer, not a roomie,” I say. Tears are suddenly in my eyes, and I know this is all coming down on me because I created this problem and now I’m receiving my punishment.

“What is your hesitancy with this man? Did he not treat you well?” Laila asks.

I wring my hands in my lap. “He did. But—”

“Was he rude?” Laila asks.

I shake my head.

“Vulgar?”

I shake my head again and press my lips together.

“Then what is the problem?”

“I can’t say.”

Laila slams her clipboard onto her messy desk and stands up. “You are gonna wanna tell me about it, for if you don’t, you won’t have a job any more, you hear?”

I cover my face with my hands and cry.

Laila sits down next to me and places her hand on my knee. “Are you in trouble with the law?”

I shake my head, sniffling.

“You are not making sense, Scarlett. Please tell me what’s wrong. Maybe I can help?” Laila’s voice is soft like a prayer.

I can’t tell her. I don’t know if I trust her enough to keep the information a secret. I stand up. “Then I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to quit,” I say. I don’t want it to end like this, because she has been really good to me and took me in when I desperately needed a job. But if she demands I tell her or demands I entertain Michael, I have to quit.

“So that’s it?” Laila says, almost whispering.

I nod. “I’m sorry. But I can’t tell you.” I stand up, open the door to the office and walk out.

I’m quickly back at my booth and start throwing all my stuff in an empty cardboard box I found on the way over. Some of the girls are staring at me, but don’t dare approach. My eyes feel like swollen sausages, and I see in the mirror that my mascara is running down my cheeks.

“Scarlett?” Anne returns from her performance.

“I quit,” I say.

“You can’t quit. You’re the star of The Black Chapel.” Anne grabs my elbow.

“I can’t tell anyone what’s going on. I have to go.” I hug her. Can I call you later?”

“Of course. And don’t worry. Everything’s going to be fine.” She forces a smile.

I thank her, and then I’m off to my car.

Heading home I see a text message from Michael. He sent it right before I got to work.

I had a wonderful time with you today. I keep thinking of your silky smooth skin and you enthralling kisses. Looking forward to more of you, Michael

Cheater, I think. I can’t believe I fell for this guy. Of course he’s a compulsive liar. I mean, look at the deal he proposed to me.

Can we talk? Scarlett

He doesn’t reply until I’m all the way back at my car.

I’ll call you tonight. What time? Michael

I’ll be home a little earlier than expected. Can you call me around ten?

Absolutely. Is everything okay? Michael

Super Duper! Scarlett

I can’t tell him I know about the stripper AKA—me. I’m going to have to see this deal through like a professional. No more strings attached, no more games. I’m going to tell him that I changed my mind about being romantically involved with him and that we just need to see this deal through like professionals with a capital
P.

As I’m driving home, it’s hard to see the road. I can’t stop crying. My oh so smart plan is unraveling faster than I can keep up with. My shot with Mr. Perfect is now gone. I thought he might want the real me, especially after today. But he wants the stripper. The part of me that isn’t even real. The part of me I’m ashamed of. The part of me hate.

I just walk in the door to my parents’ house and Michael calls at exactly one minute to ten.

“Hi, how are you?” He sounds nervous, which he should be considering he’s playing me for a fool.

“Hi. I’m sorry I’m telling you this over the phone, but I think it is better this way. I’ve thought about our small hook-up today, and I think you were right when you said that we shouldn’t sleep together. I’m sorry I let it get so out of hand.” A lump starts to form in my throat, because I don’t actually want to reject him. But my lies have gotten out of hand, his lies have been exposed, and I feel like this is my last resort to keep the deal together.

“Oh,” Michael says and then he grows silent.

“So, moving forward, if we are to see each other, we should probably only see each other in public,” I say. I sit down on the stairs.

“Okay. Was it something I said or did?”

“No,” I lie. “It’s just I don’t think we share the same values.”

“Like what?” He sounds completely taken off guard.

Serves you right Mr. can’t-keep-my-dick-in-my-pants. “Like I don’t think we have enough
trust
in each other just yet to continue on like this. Relationships are built on trust, you know.”

He sighs nervously. “I trust
you
,” he says.

I’m floored. “Well, you shouldn’t,” I say. “So on Christmas Eve, I’ll come over for Christmas, and then I’ll…”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait. Can we talk about this, please? Let me just come over.”

“No, don’t come over!” I nearly yell into the phone.

“Scarlett, I’m coming over, and you’d better be there.” He hangs up the phone.

Crap! Why don’t my plans ever work? I really don’t want to face him right now, that’s why I called him. I feel like a bag of mush with a truckload of hormones dumped on top of it. I go upstairs and take a quick shower to cleanse myself of the horrific day. It was going so well, and then he had to show up at the Black Chapel, looking for Samantha. I hate that name now.

20 minutes later, Michael arrives, looking worried as all get out, but of course sexier than a GQ model.

I let him in, but I immediately inform him that I don’t want to talk about this. He sits down on the couch and invites me to join him.

“I’d rather stand,” I say, crossing my arms in front of my chest. His intense eyes are too distracting, and I’d better keep my distance or I’ll succumb to his charm, I’m sure.
No I wont!

“Whatever it is, Scarlett, please let’s just talk it through. Will you be open with me?” Michael asks.

“I just think this is going too fast, and with all the money involved, I think it would be better if we just stuck to the original contract and nothing else.”

He searches my eye. “You’ve been crying.”

I look away. “My dad isn’t doing too well. He needs chemo, but I can’t afford it.” I immediately loathe myself for using my dad as the excuse in this argument.

Michael stands up and walks over to me. He places his hand on my chin and then lifts my face so I have to look into his dreamy blue eyes.

“I want to help. Will you please let me help you and your father? I’d hate to see him take a turn for the worse while we’re waiting for our deal to go through.” Michael looks genuinely concerned. But of course he does. He’s a pathological liar.

I bite my lower lip and look away, afraid I’ll break down in front of him. But it’s too late. I begin to cry because I want to be completely open with him.

“I just lost my job today,” I say, bawling.

“Is that what this is about?” His voice is calm and soothing.

I nod my head. Liar!

“You know my offer to support you is still open, right?” He strokes my hair.

I look back at him. “But I don’t want to be anyone’s dependent.” I hear the whiny tone in my voice, but I can’t help it.

“Okay. How about we say it’s an advance on your portion of the inheritance. That way, you’re not dependent on me,” Michael says.

I don’t say anything, but his last offer sounds reasonable.

“Oh, come on, Scarlett! Just say yes!” He grabs my arms, shakes me gently, and then smiles.

Oh my, those dimples just confuse me so much. I crack a smile.

“I know you want to!” He picks me up and twirls me around. I want to remain mad at him, but it’s very hard to. He’s still not forgiven for wanting to cheat on me with Samantha. But I guess I can’t be too mad at him since he wanted to have an affair with the other me.

“The day after Christmas, we’ll get in touch with the best doctors in town, and we’ll get your dad started on chemo right away,” Michael says.

I can hardly believe it. My dad’s going to get the treatment he desperately needs, and Michael is going to help me with it. My heart melts, and I think I might possibly be falling for this man. Like really, truly head over heels falling for him. I kiss him softly but then pull away. “Where were you tonight anyway?” I ask. I need to see if he’ll fess up.

His eyes fluster big time, but I wait patiently.

“Promise you won’t hate me if I tell you?” Michael says.

Oh, crap, he’s going to tell me. What do I do if he tells me? That means I’ll be the only liar in the room.

“I wanted to get to know this… girl better, but after you and I made love today, I dropped by to tell her that I’d met someone else.”

I feel all the blood leave my face and I take a step away from him.

“Was that too premature of me to do?” he asks.

“No,” I say, feebly. Does this mean I have to fess up now, too? “Did you get to tell her?”

“No,” he says. Then he chuckles. “She won’t even talk to me.”

“Impressed her that much, huh?” I say.

“She’s not the one I want to impress,” he says, wrapping his strong arms around me.

My inner guiltometer has reached its climax, and I can hardly stand being in the same room as the evil me.

Michael bends down and kisses me. His lips are so warm and wet, and I can’t resist him at all. My barriers are down, my reason gone. He reaches behind my neck and presses my lips harder on his. His lips are demanding now, and as I open my mouth, his tongue enters and explores my mouth. My tongue moves to meet his and joins his in a slow, sensual dance. Oh, shit. I can’t control myself around this man. I can’t manage to pull away because his kisses are so intoxicating. He wants me, I can feel it in his hungry kiss, in the way he gropes my body, and in the way he’s breathing so erratically. And I can’t deny it. I want him too.

“Feeling better?” He asks, pulling away, his arms still around me.

I nod, still high from his fervent kiss.

“Will you come spend the night at my place?”

I nod again, not thinking about the consequences, and only the immediate pleasure. Today was so amazing, and I can’t wait to experience all the sensual pleasures again.

I pack my bag and he drives me over to his house, all the while holding my hand. He kisses me passionately at every red light, and my insides are churning with delicious desire. We pull into his driveway and he directs his valet to park the car and bring my bag inside.

Halfway up the stairs, he picks me up and carries me the rest of the way. I laugh and feel as light as a feather. When he carries me into his room, he throws me onto the King sized plush mattress. The room is huge and bright, except for the bed is the color of sex. He’s got twenty-foot ceilings, at least, and ceiling high windows covering one of the walls. The burgundy sheets feel silky smooth underneath my now, almost fully exposed skin. We’re pulling each others clothes off, impatient and wanting.

“Do you have any idea of how badly I want you right now?” he whispers, his eyes ablaze.

I laugh, and moan and then turn to Jell-O in his arms.

He kisses me and bites my lower lip, sending all kinds of raging emotions through me. I’ve never been kissed like this before, but it’s not just the kiss that’s so tantalizing. It’s that I feel he really wants
me
.

“You are so beautiful, Scarlett.” He gropes my breast and then sucks on my nipple, biting it gently. His tongue encircles me there. How is he doing this to me? Driving me crazy with his tongue. It’s even better than earlier today and I want him even more than before. He kisses a trail down my abdomen, leaving tingles where his wet lips touch. I’m so heavy and wanting, I arch my back in anticipation and he slips his fingers inside me.

“Oh, Scarlett, you’re so wet.” His voice is raspy.

I moan at the pleasure.

“I want you so bad, Scarlett.” He moves his fingers, faster and faster until I feel myself building. “I’m going to take you now, I can’t wait,” he says, getting on top of me. He enters me slowly and starts moving. I feel the build up again as I rise to meet him at the deepest part of the thrust. He moves faster and faster, deeper and deeper, and I beg for my release. He gets down onto his elbows and his lips envelop mine, kissing me passionately.

I moan into his mouth, because I need to let the pleasure come out somehow, somewhere. “Oh, Michael” I say as I feel myself come, pulling myself away from his lips so I can catch my breath.